Broad pegs back Australia

Stuart Broad nipped out three quick wickets to halt Australia's progress after the tourists had got off to a flying start in today's NatWest Series match at Cardiff.

Shane Watson put the pace to a half-century stand with Tim Paine but then lost his both his opening partner and captain Ricky Ponting, each caught behind to become Broad's 100th and 101st one-day international victims.

After 15 overs, Australia were 67 for two and slipped to 77 for three after Michael Clarke was bounced out for one.

It was Watson who was largely responsible for the rush of early runs, facing each ball of the first two overs and hitting five fours.

He began with a crunching off-drive from James Anderson's first ball of the match and continued to dominate off the front foot.

Paine needed just one 'sighter' before he too picked up a boundary, cover-driven off Anderson.

England gradually exerted a degree of control. But the 50 still came up in nine overs, and the Australia openers both appeared to have plenty of power to add until Broad nabbed an unlikely wicket when Paine tried to deflect runs off an unremarkable delivery on his pads only to instead edge a routine catch behind.

Ponting's dismissal reflected much more credit on the bowler, who got one to kick from a decent length just outside off-stump.

Vice-captain Clarke then fell for one, fending a fierce short ball from Broad to Graeme Swann at short leg.

Vindication of Ponting's decision to bat first on a fresh and bright afternoon was therefore still to materialise.